Metallic water-flume.



W. C. .IRVIN & F. M. DOAK.

METALLIC WATER FLUME.

APPLICATION FILED-OCT. 28, I914 1,168,505, Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

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WILLIAM. G. IRVIN AND FREDERICK. M. DOAK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

METALLIC WATER-FLUME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. f8, 1916.

App1ication filed-October 28, 1914: Serial No. 869,030.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM C. IRVIN and F nnnnniox M. DOAK, citizens of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Water-Flames, of which the following is a specification.

The hereinafter described invention relates to that class of water fiumes commonly employed in connection with the work of irrigation or the conducting of water as a flowing I stream to distant points, and wherein the flume or water-way comprises a plurality of open metallic sections united one to the other and ordinarily suspended within an open supporting frame structure.

The object of the present invention is to permit of light metalbeing utilized from which to construct the flume sections and to so unite or connect the ends of adjacent sections of the respective i'iume sections of the water-way that provision will be provided at such transverse joints for the free expansion of the connected sections, and in general to provide a water flume simple in its construction, inexpensive, durable, and less liable to leakage than with the open metallic flumes as at present constructed.

To comprehend the invention reference should be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a broken perspective view, disclosing a portion of a completed water.- flume constructed under the invention. Fig. 2 is a broken detail longitudinal sectional view illustrating the manner of uniting the ends of adjacent fiumesections and the tie members therefor. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view disclosing one of the angle plates attached tosthe flume structure and to which plates the ends. of the outer supporting tie members are keyeds Fig.4 is a transverse section of a flume-way, illustrating the super-structure for preventing spreading of the frame structure. Fig. 5 is a broken longitudinal sectional view taken on line wa2 Fig. 4 of the drawings, and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is a broken transverse sectional view taken through the flume at the point of union of adjacent fiuine sections.

In the drawings, the numerals land 2 are used to designate adjacent iiume sections, preferably composed of what is known in the art as light metal and of a length suitable for open fiume construction. Each sheet or section is properly curved or shaped for the desired fiume-way and the ends of each metallic section terminate in a transverse substantial V-shaped or trough flanged extension, lip or section, in the present case the under surface of the said flanged extension, lip or section 3 of the flume section 1, loosely resting or nesting within the groove or chain nel'of the flanged extension, lip or section 4. of the fiume section 2, so that when the flume sections are brought together the ends of adjacent sections will interlock or engage with each other to provide a loose transverse lap joint union therebetween. Each flume section is further provided at each of its ends with a transverse expansion bend, 8 and 4 in Fig. 2 of the drawings, formed in the metal of the flume section, between the straight or body portion thereof and the transverse channeled extension, the function of said expansion bend being to give or flex sufficiently to absorb all longitudinal contraction or expansion of the section. These fiume sections are held between and supported in the present case within a suitable frame structure extended the length of the flume-way, said frame structure consisting of the spaced longitudinally disposed uprights 5, tie braces 6 and the longitudinally disposed stringers or girders 7. To the longitudinal stringers or girders 7 at each transverse joint or union between adjacent flume sections, the clamp plates 8 are secured by the lag-screws 10, and the overlapping ends of adjacent fiume sections are held together transversely between the members 11 and 12, which constitute the tie members for the flume sections and for holding the.

same within the frame structure of the flume.

The under member 11, hereinafter termed an angle member, is suitably curved and shaped to the desired width and depth of the fiume, and the said angle member in its upper face is provided with a V-shaped trough or channel 13 throughout the length thereof, into which fits or rests the under flanged lap extension or lip a of the flume The ends of the angle member 11 extend through an angle opening 14: out in the clamp plates'S and are held thereto and to the frame structure of the fiume by means of a key 14 driven through transverse elongated opening 1& in each projecting end of the angle member 11 and which, as driven home, draws the anglememberin position and holds the same to the frame structure. key It is illustrated as a split wedge, the open members of which after the wedge key has been driven home may be spread apart or separated to prevent the same working loose.

Prior to drawing the angle member 11 into final position, the companion member 12, which is provided with a substantially wedge shaped under portion 12 is fitted within the groove formed by the flanged extension 3 of the fiume section 1, the upper ends of said member bearing against the under surface of the downwardly projected flanged extension 10 of the clamp plate 8. This member 12 serves as a fillet for the channel of the flanged extension 3 and the same shall hereinafter be referred to as a fillet rod,'which fillet rod is suitably curved and shaped to the desired width and depth of the fiume section into which it is to lie. lVith the parts thus loosely assembled, the wedge keys 1e are driven home, causing the" angle member 11 to force the overlapping flanged extensions of the adjacent fiume sections firmly into place and securing the same between the fillet member 12 and the angle member 11, thus securely supporting the same in position throughout the length of the fiume, and by reason of the support given by the said angle member 11 and the comparative shortness of the fiume members 1 and'2, a durable, inexpensive and quickly constructed metallic fiume isprovided for and one wherein the fiume sections may be composed of comparatively light iron. I

"The described fiume construction is mainly designed for flumes of that class known as shallow flumes, but the invention is'not to be understood as being so limited,

inasmuch as deep fiume construction may be utilized, as illustrated by Fi 4 of the drawing.

It 1s desirable at times that means be cm- In the present case the securing ployed to prevent the spreading of the frame. structure, and for this purpose there is utilized a superstructure composed of a transverse tie-rod l5 unitedto the side longitudinal sills or girders 7 of the frame structure by the standards or uprights 15' bolted or otherwisesecured thereto. superstructures are preferably placed along the flumeway at points where the transverse joint unions between the flume sections are made, thus reinforcing the flumeway at such points andpreventing the weight of the water spreading apart the frame structure of the flume and by so doing overcom ing the sagging of the fiume sections. The transverse'tie-rod is raised or situated sucha distance above the flumeway-as to overcome-floating debris, such as branches of trees, etc, becoming entangled therewith, which entanglement would preventthe free flow of water.

Byreason of the manner of interlocking These" 7 the flanged ends of adjacent flume sections I and securing the sameone within the other, by means of theangle member 11 and the fillet member or rod 12,21 substantially nonleaky union is obtained betweenthe fiume sections, while at the same time ample provision is provided for expansion of the said flume'sections, whichis an important fea ture in connection with flume construction;

The ease with which the flume members may be assembled, materiallyreduces the ex pense incident to theinstallation of a fiume system, while the fact that the weight of the through, is provided against.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

A water fiume, the same comprising a supporting structure, a plurality of metallic fiume sections situated within the sphere of the supporting structure, the ends'of each section terminating in substantially a V- shaped flanged extension providing a trans versely grooved surface and the end flanged extension of adjacent fiume sections overlapping forengagement one with the other, a transversely disposed fillet member fitted within the groove of the uppermost end flanged extension of the united fiume sections, a transversely disposed angle member arranged beneath the lowermost end. flanged extension of adjacent: fiume sections anuwitnm which one sameres s, the iongimembers being spaced from the joint of the In testimony whereof we have signed our 10 V-shapeol flanges of the main fiume portions names to this specification in the presence of whereby a longitudinal expansion and contwo subscribing witnesses.

traction of the fiume sections is permitted,

and means for securing the said angle mei WILLIAM IRVIN' her to the supporting structure whereby the FREDERICK DOAK' interlocked end flanged extension of adja- Witnesses:

cent flume sections will be clamped between NLA. AoKER,

said fillet and anglemembers. -D. B. Rrorn nns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by,addressing the Commissioner of ZEatents,

Washington, D. C. 

